http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com Energy Efficiency and Alternative Fuels Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:46:20 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en What is Energy Star? Energy Star is a program run by the U.S. government's Environmental Protection Agency that is dedicated to helping consumers improve their energy efficiency. The program has many facets, but there are four main areas it addresses: Consumer products. Any new product that you might buy that uses electricity, from ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/energy-star What To Look For in a New Washer and Dryer It is important to compare the energy efficiency ratings of different washers before purchasing a new one. Dryers vary little on energy usage, although some use natural gas rather than electricity, and electric dryers are much better because the fuel they use to ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/energy-efficient-washers What You Need To Know About Home Solar Power There are three types of solar cells: single crystalline, multi-crystalline, and amorphous silicone. Single crystalline cells are the most common and most efficient type of photovoltaic ("PV") solar energy cell. These PV cells are guaranteed to produce at least 80 percent of ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/solar-energy Types of Alternative Fuel and Hybrid Vehicles There is an impressive array of alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles currently on the market and in development. They fall into the following categories: Flex-Fuel Vehicles Propane/Natural Gas Powered Vehicles Biodiesel Powered Vehicles Hybrid Electric Vehicles Fully Electric Vehicles Fuel Cell Vehicles Each type has its own unique advantages and disadvantages ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/alternative-fuels Regional Climate and Microclimate When considering how to improve home energy efficiency through landscaping, the first thing to take into account is your regional and local climate. Four regions occur in the United States: temperate, hot-humid, hot-arid, and cool: The second factor affecting the climate surrounding your home is microclimate. Many things ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/energy-efficient-landscaping Driving Strategies The cheapest and easiest way to improve your fuel economy is to change how you drive your existing car. Air conditioning. As a general rule, if you are driving under 40 miles per hour (MPH), it is more fuel efficient to turn off the air conditioner and roll down the ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/improve-fuel-economy Perform A Home Energy Audit Before starting your home remodeling project, it's a good idea to evaluate your current energy use so that you can identify the areas that need efficiency improvements. You can perform your own energy audit or you can hire a professional contractor to help. If you are going ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/energy-efficient-remodeling Site Selection If you are considering building a green, energy efficient home within an existing community, contact your local government or the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") to locate local "greyfield" or "brownfield" sites for your home.  A greyfield site is one that has been previously developed as light industrial or commercial ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/green-home-building Wind Power Options The only option really available to you when it comes to home wind power is a wind turbine. Wind turbines are a very efficient way of generating home electricity; however, not all locations and regions are windy enough to justify wind turbines. Consider these factors before buying a wind turbine: ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/wind-energy What Is Renewable Energy? Renewable energy is electricity generated from renewable resources like sunlight or wind. Most of our current electricity supply comes from finite resources like coal. Renewable energy is not only more environmentally friendly, but can also be more energy efficient because it costs much less over time to generate and ... http://www.energyefficiencyadvisor.com/renewable-energy